HELLOWEEN

Release Year: 2006
Artist Origin: GER
Style: infectious melodic heavy power metal

it took the leading German melodic metal band a bit more than one year to recover from the mixed reactions to their most commercial take on the genre with Chameleon that caused eventual departure of long-time vocalist and drummer, but the bounce-back record [1994] sounds more than convincing, boiling with energy and zeal, seemingly harming the ambitions of both Weikath and Grapow who both wrote a killer handful of numbers, plus it was a stepping in frontman Andi Deris, adding his massive contribution to the writing process, let alone a drummer legend Uli Kusch joining the ranks as well; remarkably, Andi's voice has a wider appeal, but he managed to adopt it to loud and crushing music; recent expanded edition comes with a remastered sound and seven authentic bonuses in form of single B-sides, including Thin Lizzy Cold Sweat, Kiss I Stole Your Love, and Grand Funk Railroad Closer to Home covers